Game apparatus



W. DOLL GAME APPARATUS May 10, 1932. V

Filed Sept. 29. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY -May 10, 1932. w. DOLL GAME APPARATUS lFiled Sept. 29. 1927 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Inh.

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Patented Maj 1o, 1932 UNITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE -WALTEB DOLL, `Oll's GRANVILLE, NEW YORK emr. arrmrus I Application led September 29, 1927. Seriall No. 222,775?.`

Y This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and refers more particularly to such apparatus las can be used in play' mg or practlcmg the well known game of golf, in such limited' space as to avoid the 4.necessity of chasing golf balls.

An important object of the invention, in

its broader aspects, is to provide a 4compact apparatus wherein -a captive ball member 1s supported in position to be struck by a golf club or the "like, and wherein means are provided for indicating the nature lof blows struck upon the ball member.

Another object is to provide such a device with means for indicating the angularity, in two planes, of blows struck against .the captive ball member.

Another object is to provide such a device with novel mechanism for transmitting driving impacts from, the ball member to the indicating means with reduced force. l

Another object is to provide such a device with a novel friction brake whereby to impose a drag on certainfparts and thus to re- Strict movement of such parts to reasonable limits.

Another object is to provide such a device Awith means for supporting the captive ball member in different selective positions to t permit the proper use of diii'erent clubs.

Another object is to provide such a device with means whereby it can be quickly and easily reset to playing position after its mech' anism has been actuated. Y

Another object is'to provide such-a device which will be simple in construction, strongand. durable 1n servlce, economlcal 1n manufactu1e,'and a substantlal advance in the art,

xand which constitutes apparatus which is 40 well adapted for instruction, recreation and exercise. i

lVit-lr the'foregoing and othervobjects in View, the invention resides inthe novel constriiction, combinationand arrangement of parte hereinafter set forth, shown in thefac companying drawings illustrating one em' bodiment of. the invention, and pointed out in the appended claims. .3 In the drawings, lFigurel is atop plan view of the device" lmechanism may preferably be mountedXi'n a casing which has been shown conventionally 1n the drawings as of rectangular outline and comprising a bottom 10, side walls 11, 11, end

walls 12, 12, and a fabricated top which will be described more in detail hereinafter. Such casing constitutes a supporting frame for the mechanismI and may preferablybe set in the ground outdoors'or in arecess in the floor of a room, or otherwise disposed with its top substantially ush with the feet of a player using the device. The internal mechanism of the 7.5- apparatus may preferably lbe mounted as a unit within the casing and the arrangement such that the entire apparatus may be readily portable, if desired.

A mounting flange 14 is secured as by screws l15 to the bottom 10 of the casing and con- -stitutes a support for a swivel post 16 which extends upwardly within said casing.

swivel. supporting sleevev 17 is rotatably mounted upon the swivel post. 16 and held in .place thereon by means of a suitable collar 18 secured by set-screws 19 or the like, and said swivel-sleeve constitutes the support or central. supportingpmember of a swiveled frame, portions of which are adapted for swinging movement in two perpendicular planes. At its opposite sides the sleeve 17 'is provided with bosses 2O having threaded openings 2l whichare in alignment with each other and which are adapted to receive the screw- 95 threaded extremities of a pair of pivot-screws 22, which serve topivotally connect a frame or'be'am 23'to the sleeve 17.v in such a-mannerthat its free ends swing upwardly and downv wardly in a vertical plane. Said beam 23 -free end with a. hammer head 30, kas liest shown in Fig.'4. The forward end or face of said hammer head may preferably bel slightly curved and if desired may be hardened and capable of withstandingv and transmitting sharp blows, as will hereinafter be explained, and the rearward end of said hammer head carries a captive ball member 31 which may be suitably formed and constructed to have substantially the same physical characteristics and-properties as an ordinary golf ball. In Figs. 2 and 4 the captive ball member 31 has been shown in its normal position of rest ready to be struck by a golf club or the like and it will be noticed that in such normal position said ball member is disposed immediately above the 'preferably fabricated top of the casing; and thearm 29 extendsA through an opening 32 in the top board 33, said top board being set slightly below the upper edges of the side walls 11 and end walls 12,.and being covered by asuitable yielding material, such as a piece of cocoinatting 34 or the like. The coco-matting is also provided with an opening 35 through which the arm 29 and hammer-head 30 are adapted to operate, said opening being shown 'as of segmental shape, with its arcuate edges struck from the center of the swivel post 16. The coco-matting 34 makes possible the use of-the device without jeopardizing the heads of the golf clubs which are used in striking the captive ball-member 31. A iiat spring A36 is also carried by the extensionmcmber 26, it having oneY of its ends anchored on a cross-bar 37 and its other end free and provided with a substantially V-shaped catch 38 which is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped notch 39 in the arm 29 in such a manner, as to retain said arm 29 in its upwardly extended position, but without offen ing enoughI resistance to affect the stroke of the golf club on the ball-member 3l.

Also carried by the rearward extension 26 is a socket-member 40 Within which is operable a spring-pressed plunger 41 which is held in place by a. detachable cover plate 42 and provided with a collar portion 43 against the lower side of which a compression spring 44 is adapted to bear. One end of the plunger 41 extends upwardly through the cover plate 42 and in such a position as to be capable of being struck bythe hammer-head 30 as it swings downwardly about the pin 28, and the y lower end of said plunger 41 extends slightly i below the socket-member 40 and bearsv against i a rearwardly extending arm 45 of a rocker 46which is pivoted at 47 to the frame extension 26. The rocker 46 is further provided with a. forwardly extending arm 48 which normally7 bears against one face of a horizontal arm 49 of a bell-crank 50 which is pivoted at 51 to the'yoke 24 preferably at a point forward of the swivel sleeve 17. A second arm 52 of the bell-crank 50 extends upwardly in front of the swivel sleeve l17 and has its upper extremity bifurcated as at 53 in such a inanner as to be capable of straddling a guidemember 54.

The guide-member 54 may preferably bein the nature of a small rod or taut wire which is supported in a horizontal position and radially with reference to the axis of the swivel.

post `16. The rod or wire has its rear end secured in any suitable manner to an anchoring post 55 on the sleeve 17, and has its forward end connected to a stud 56 which extends upwardly from'the forward end of a su porting bar 57 carried by the sleeve 17. T elbar 57 and guide-member 54 are relativelylong as compared with the diameter of the swivel post 1,6 and constitute-a pointer for indicating the angularity of blows struck upon the2 ballmember 31 in one plane. For this purpose the casing of the apparatus is provided with a horizontal dial plate 58 which overlies the bar 57 and has an arcuate slot 59 through I which the stud 56 extends upwardlyin such a manner as to dispose the guide-member 54 above said dial plate. The center of curvature of the arcuate slot 59 is coincident with the axis ofthe swivel post 16, so that said bar 57 and guide 54 and associated partsy are Aenabled to Swing in a horizdntal plane, and

to opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the Casing or dial pla-te. Adjacent the inner edge of the slot 59 is a series of'radial graduations 59a'l which indicate angular movement of the guide-member from the central position of rest. Such graduations may be arranged andrdesignated as desired. Dial plate 58 is also provided with a series of spaced arcuate lines 60, 61,62, 63 and G4 ywhich are also concentric with the slot 59 and so related to each other as to indicate distance values. There are five such arcuate lines shown in Fig. 1, respectively marked to indicate 100 yards, 150 yards, 200 yards, 250 yards and' dicator to move longitudinally on the guide 54 afdistance commensurate with the :actuating force. In its normal position, of course, said indicatin member must be disposed' against the bi urcated impelling end 53 of thevbell-crank arm 52'so that there will be no lost motion of said arm with reference to the indicating means. In order that the bell-crank arm 4Q may always be maintained vin engagement'with the rocker 46, a suitable spring 66 is lemployed,"said springbeing shown in the drawings as of the flat strip type against a portion 67 of the yoke 24 in such a way as to always beqnaintained under tension.

A cylindrical portion 68 extends forward? ly from the yoke 24 and 'carries a rod 69, the forward extremity of which is bent upwardly as at 70 and provided with a pointer 71 which is adapted to cooperate with a dial 72 to indicate the angularity of blows in the vertical plane. The dial 72 lnay be formed of sheet metal or the like, and is longitudinally curved on an arcv struck from the center of the swivel post 16 andpreferably extends above the top edge ofthe casingwallslland l2` for the purpose of facilitatingquick reading,` and the rear surface of said plate or dial 72 is characterized by-a pairv of parallel lines 73, 74, each of which indicates the normal position of the pointer 71 for selective supported v positions of the captive ball member 31,

Asis well known to those skilled in the art., different golf clubs are used .for different strokes, depending upon the pos1tion in wlnch the ball lies, and such differences in play are taken into" account and this machine makes possible its use witl'n various types ofgolf clubs. 'For example, wh/e/n the 4parts are in position as shown in Fig. 2 with the extremityA of the pointer' 71 registering with the dial l tion 68 of the beam carries a weight 7 5 'whiehjl line 73, the ball 31 is set for an iron" or brassie shot. ABy slightly tilting th'e beam 23 about the axis of the pivots 22, said ball member 31 can be raised 'up slightly," and when such an adjustment ismade so that the extremity of the pointer 7l'-registers with the dial line 74, the ball member is in position for a tee shot. To insure the absolutely level setj ting of the mechapism, the cylindrical poris adjustable longitudinally with reference to the beam and capable of being secured in adiusted position by a set-screw 76 or the like.

When 'the apparat-us is first set, said weight is adjusted to a position for balancing the beam- 23 with the arm 29 in its downward position, as indicated by dotted lines injFig. 4. Thereafter adjustment of the weight 7 5 may only be necessary occasionally in order to compensate for slight variations due to vibration or perhaps slight wear ofsome 'of the parts.

After the apparatus has been set, the frame l' its free-end being adapted to bear` Vor beam which is balanced by the weight of the arm 29 and ball 31 thereon maybe tilted about the axis of the pivot 22 a's'before stated.l

This is 4done by taking hold of the lball 31 and moving it vertically Oneway or the other touchange its height, thus swinging the frame on its said pivots. The tension on brake band 77 is employed in connection .with the beaml 23. Said brake comprises. a brake-drum 78 which is keyed, as at 79, or otherwise secured to one end 'of a shaft 80,` said shaft bein journalled for rotation in lugs 81 'carried y the yoke extension 26. Also "keyedto said shaft preferably between the spaced lugs 81 is a pinion 82 whichm'eshes with a gear-segment 83 carried by the swivel sleeve 17, said'-l gear-segment having its aXis 'coincident with the axes of the` pivot-screws 22. Substantially encircling the brake drum 78 is a brake 'band 84 which has'its extremities secured, as

by-the bolt 85 and adjusting nut 86, to a lateral bracket 87 of the yoke extension '26, and the arrangement is such that said-brak'e-band 84 is .constantly in frictional engagement with the periphery of the brake-drum 7 8.v -Thus zthe swinging movement of the beam 23 in a vertlcal plane results 1n partial rotatlon of the pinion 82 by virtue of its engagement with the segmental gear 83, and correspondingly causes relative rotation f of thc--fbrake-drum Y 7 8 with reference to the anchored brake-band 84. lSuch rotation, however, is resisted by the frictional engagement of the brake-band against the brake-drum with the, resultthat the swinging movement of the beam. is considerably overcome. The frictional resistlio ance offered bythe brake can be v4varied or adj 'j usted at will by the manipulation ofthe adjusting nut 86. This arrangement; is partic-A ularly simple and effective` and is important in view of the substantial leverage or rather the distance between the pointer .71 and the hori-zontal'center of rotation.

f The use of `the apparatus will no doubt be clear from the .foregoing description, but brief recapitulatiol'i will be resorted to.

After the device has been set in a perfectly level condition and is desired for use, the ball 3l 1s placed 1n its play/111g position above the coco-matting 34 andthe indicating means` directly overv t-he longitudinal center 'ofthe dial" plate 58, and the slidable indicator 65 is in enga-gement with the front slide of the bell-crank arm 52. The player or user then lstands beside the device with his feetflevel y are so disposed that the guide member 54 is '.125

u with ythe top of the casing and, having selected a .I'roper'- club, hevstrikes the captive" ball 31 in exactl .'the same mannerthat he would strike'a ree golf ball onza "regular golfA course. Thefimpact' ofjthe golf club` Aagainst the :ball "31overc'omes the resistance o the spring 36 and swings the arm 29 down# i -wardly abut the center of the'pivot pin 28,

causing the hammer-head to forcibly strike; against the upper end ofthe plunger 41.

This results in downward movement of said plunger .41, vagainst the v action of the compression spring 44, and such movement is communicated through the arms 45 and 48 of the rocker 46 to-the bell-crank 50.3` The arm -52-of the bell-crank 50 is thus caused t6 swing forwardly with a quick movement,

pushing the indicator 65 along the guide 54,y

l the golf club is'absolutelytrue and without angulardeviationv in either plane, neither the Swingin arm 57 nor the beam 23 willk be caused o appreciably move, but if the blow lis not absolutely true, there will be movement of one or both of said members 57 and 23, and the extent of angular deviation in the vertical and horizontal planes will be indicated by the apparatus. For example, if the ball is lofted, that is struck below its horizontal axis, the pointer l71 on beam 23 will be caused to swing downwardly in a vertical plane about the axis of the pivot screws 22, and will come to rest at a position spaced away from the indicating lines 7 3 or 7 4, which ever was used to determine the neutral starting position'. Similarly, if the ball is topped, that is struck above its horizontal center, said pointer 71 on beam 23 will swing upwardly an amount commensurate with tthe deviation of the/blow. In a lik`e manner `the bar 57 will be caused to swingabout the axis'of the swivel 'post'16 in either one direction or the other dependent upon whether the ball is hooked or'sliced, and in some stancesthere will be indication of angular deviation in both planes at once, and with respect-'toboth the vertical and horizontal axes of the ball member.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a very simple yet practical apparatus has been provided'for golf players, whereby they may practice with a View to improving their garlic very substantially without the necessity of chasing balls, or they may use the device for recreational `or amusement purposes as will be obvious. The device is very 3 simple in construction and strong and du-` The approximate distancev right is herein reserved to make such change as fall within the scope of the appen claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim, is: j 1. In apparatus of the class described, a

swiveled frame, a captive member pivoted to said frame and adapted to be struck by a golf club or the like, the pivot extending substantially in the plane in which the ,frame may swivel, a 'stationary plate having twoseries of indications, indicating means responsive` to the pivotal movement of the captive member and cooperating with one of the series, and indicating means responsive to a swiveling movement of the frame and cooperating with the other series, for -separately indicating the force and angularity of a blow delivered to said captive member, both of said means extending in one direction away from the swivel and the captive member being located away from theswivel, in the opposite direction, and the first said indicating means including a movable indicator and devices operable from the captive member and acting on the movable indicator, such devices being mountedv on the frame in a lposition to be struck by the captive member.A

2. In Iapparatusof the class described, a supporting frame, a swiveled frame thereon, a captive member pivoted to said swiveled frame and adapted to be struck by a golf club or the like, the pivot extending horizontally,

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a stationary dial, mounted on the supporting frame, and a pointer carried bythe swiveled frame, andl cooperating with thedial to indicate on the dial the angularityof a blow delivered to said captive member, the dial being located at one side of the swivel and the captive member at the other side. A

3. In apparatus of the class described, a captive member, means for supporting the member in position to be struck by a golf club orthe like, a substantially horizontal guide,

ya distance indicator slidable thereon, means for mounting the guide for a lateral move-y ment when the captive member is struck, and

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means for transmitting percussive forces from said captiveA member to said distance indicator, whereby to move the indicator a distance commensurate with the force of the blow struck,- y

4. In apparatus of the class described, a swiveled frame, a captive ball member pivoted to said frame and adapted to be struck by a golf club or the like, a slidable distance indicator supported by said frame, means for transmitting percussive forces from the captive ball member to said distance indicator, whereby to move the indicator a disoted'to said frame and Y two planes-perpendicular to eachother,

Acarrying arm pivoted to tance cmm'ens'urate with thevforce of the" 'blow struck, and means for indicating theP angularity of the blow with reference to the centeriofthe ball'm'ember.

5.In apparatus of the class described, a swiveledframe,a captive ball member pivadaptcd to be struck by a golf club or the like, dual, dial means, and movable indicatormembers for approx-l imately indicating the distance and direc-v tion, respectively, whichl a free golf ball would have when a blow is delivered Lwith reference to the horizontal and vvertical axes of the ball member, and mechanism controlling the indicator.members,and operable directly by the pivotal captive member for 'initiating' i such. dual indication.

' is directly carried by the frame and another with two series a m ovable` of which is carriedby a separate indicator member swivelingwith the frame and the in dicator members cooperating respectively with'said dials, and means operable by the captive ball member and acting on the other indicator, whereby -theseparate indicator and such other indicator are adapt-ed toindi'cate direction and 'distance of a golf ball drive commensurate with the blow delivered to said Vcaptive ball member.

7. In apparatus of theclass described, a captive ball member, a frame providedwith means permitting its swinging movement in a ball said frame and movable relatively thereto, dial means provided of indications, stroke indicating means carriedby and movable with the frame whereby to indicate at one series of indications the angularity of blows struck upon the ball mem/ber,l and means operable by the ball member whereby to indicate the force of the blows at the other series.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a captive ball member, a frame provided with means permitting its .two planes perpendicular to each other, a ball carrying arm pivoted to said frame and movable relatively thereto, means for indicating the direction of blows struck upon the ball member whenr the frame moves in the two planes, and means including a stationary dial, indicator member supported by the frame, anddevices directly operable by the arm `for causing the indicator member to cooperate with the dial, for indicating the distance which would be traversed by a tree ball under the same blows.

9. In apparatus ofthe class described, a captive ball member, a pivoted arm carrying said ball member and adapted to support the golf club or the like,.two stationary distanceindicating means" comprising av substantially straight horizontally elongated guide 'and a slidable member mounted thereon, and means including a7 bell-crank lever for transmitting percussive forces from the ball member to said slidable member vwhereby to move the slidable member on the elongated member a distance commensurate with the blowstruck.

10. In apparatusI ot the class described, the `combination of a Jframe,- thereon in position to be struck by aclub or a member mounted the like, a substantially horizontal guide on the frame, an indicator slidable on the guide, and means including a combination of levers for acting: on the indicator and movable by a blow given on said member whereby the levers move the indicatoren the guide with reduced force.

11. In apparatus ofthe class' described, a rotatable support, a beam pivoted to said support for swinging movement on anaXis perswinging movement in lsaid beam,

pendicular to vthat of the support, a stationary dial a captive ball member pivoted to said beam, means carried by the) beam forcooperating with said dialto indicate topped and 'lofted' balls asia result of the blows-delivered to said ball member, and means operativelyl connected between the beam and the support'l whereby to partially oyercome the force oi the delivered blows..

12. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatable support, 'a beam pivoted to" said support -for swinging movement on an axis perpendicular tothat of the support, a stationary dial, a captive ball member pivoted to and lofted balls as a, result of the blows delivered to said ball Vmember, and frictional engaging means operatively connected between the beam and the support whereby to partially overcome the force of the delivered .11'0- member pivoted to y the sleeve means carried by the beam :for cooperating with said dial to indicate topped caused to rotate. by a swinging movement of the beam, a brake drum rotatable with said last-mentioned gear member and a 'brake band for frictionally engaging the brake rum to partially overcomethe rotative efect.

14, In apparatus swiveled frame,

of the class described a ofcd to said `frame and adapted to be struck a captive ball member piv by a golf club or the like, a-sta-tionary dial, a

polnter carried by the frame and cooperating with the dial to indicate a topped or lofte ball as a result of the Ablow delivered to said all member and friction brake means for restricting t frame.

15. in apparatus` ofthe class described, a

swiveled frame, a. captive member movably mounted on said frame and adapted to be struck by agolf club or the like, amovable .distance indicator supported by said frame,

leverage means fory transmitting percussive forces! from the ca tive member to said distance indicator, whereby to move the indicat'or a distancecommensurate with the force of the blow struck, and means acted upon by the captive member and swiveled `frame for indicating the angularity -of the blow with reference yto the .captive member.

v16. In apparatus of the class described, a

y horizontal pivot, a frame supported inter- AI nediately of its length by the pivot, and a.` captive ball member supported on one end of and balancingethe frame, whereb lthe ball member may vations for use with different golf clubs.

17. 4In apparatus ofthe class described, a. horizontal pivota framesupported interxmediately of its length by the pivot and a captive ball member supported on one end of l and balancing the frame, whereby the ball member may be adjusted tota pluralit of elevations :foruse 'with different olf c ubs, and blow indicating means opera le by the ball member in each selected position of elevation. l

` WALTER DOLL.

e movement of said swiveled adjusted to a plura ity of eley 

